Large Scale Open Algae Ponds

Ami Ben-Amotz The National Institute of Oceanography

Nature Beta Technologies Ltd. Nikken Sohonsha Co, Japan

Seambiotic Ltd. ISRAEL

Commercial Open Ponds

Taiwan from round ponds (1960)

to oblong raceways (1970) mixotrophic cultivation

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Location •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Site control, pH control •Carbonation •Mixing & Turbulence •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Location •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel (design, material, location, construction, units/pond area) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Mixing and Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control and pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Location? “Climatic regions most suitable for microalgae :

annual average temperatures of > 15 °C” (Benemann, 2007)

Location? Earthrise, Imperial Valley, CA

Location? Microbio Resources, Imperial Valley, Calipatria, CA

Location? Nature Beta Technologies Ltd., Eilat, Israel

Location? Cyanotech Corp. Hawaii, USA

Location? Far East Chlorella and Spirulina

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Location •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel (design, material, location, construction, units/pond area) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control and pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Design U or Ellipsoid Pond?

pump, bubbling air or airlift? Oswald, Shelef & Melamed, USA & Israel, 1977

Oswald (1983/4) System Design for 10 Acres

Dunaliella Production System

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Location •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel (design, material, location, construction, units/pond area) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Raceway Pond (Oswald 1984)

Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal commercial size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel (design, material, location, construction, units/pond area) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

Area Layout & Pond Design, set of 1 acre ponds (Oswald 1984)

Major items: Up & Down streams Overflow sumps Fresh water makeup Paddle wheels Carbonation CO2 feed lines Solids chamber Liquid lines Length, width, depth, slope, Screens

Length, Width & Depth

Length & Width 10 x 2 x 170 m = 3,400m2 (USA)

Length & Width 10 x 2 x 150 m = 3,000m2 (Israel)

Length & Width 10 x 2 x 150 m = 3,000m2 ?(USA)

Scale Up, Length & Width 10 x 2 x 150 m = 3,000m2 (Israel, USA)

Length & Width 5 x 4 x 150 m = 3,000m2

Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end Hydraulic Radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel (design, material, location, construction, units/pond area) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Distal End, Hydraulic Radius

Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel (design, material, location, construction, units/pond area) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

No liner Clay

Asphalt

PVC & PE

PVC, under liner geo-textile

300 m2 Pond

PVC 3,000m2

PVC Liner 20 Years Old Durable (20 years), UV resistant, Low “n”

Biology &Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

Pond lining None, leak Clay, leak, anaerobic areas Concert, break Asphalt, disintegrate Fiberglass, expensive Rubber, ?? High density polyethylene (HDPE), break, high temperature expansion coefficient Polyethylene, ok, low “n” but welding problem Polypropylene, ok, low “n” PVC (technical grade, food grade), ok, low “n” PVC, Geo-textile underline, may be needed PVC, UV resistance, ease of maintenance, simlpe welding, durable

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

The Paddle wheel • “Inefficient pump” or independent impeller • Location • Design • Construction • Shaft & blades material (stainless steel, fiberglass, marine

plywood, others) • Number of blades • Diameter • Bottom to paddle distance • Paddle in liquid (perimeter & angle, immersion in culture) • Salt incrustation (water washing) • Motor, gear, rpm (5-30rpm) • Maintenance (weight, lifting, lift distance) • Units/pond • Units/area

The One Unit Paddle Wheel Oswald (1983)

The Paddle Wheel Location and Design

The Paddle Wheel one unit fiberglass paddle (Oswald)

or the divided blades motors & gears

The Paddle Wheel Material Blades made of plastic, metal or

marine plywood (Dodd)

The Paddle Wheel Dimensions Length: 10 or 5 meters?

One of 5 or 10m, or two of 5m? Diameter: 30 to 120cm?

Blades shape & size? Immersion & angel?

The Spirulina Paddle Wheel short diameter (30 cm), high rpm

Spirulina paddle long, short diameter, high rpm

The Paddle Wheel location, design, direction?

two or one in pond?

Paddle Wheel flow direction?

The “Island” design and area?

Pond Optimization paddle wheel/pond area?

Oswald: one paddle/3,400m2

Immersion, Angel and Ground how many blades in culture at time (2/8;3/8;2/6)? distance to ground?

Biology &Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Outside walls and channel dividers concrete?

Outside walls and channel dividers bricks?

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity

in Algal Open Ponds •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Site control, pH control •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Laminar Flow Velocity Oswald: ~30cm/sec

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity

in Algal Open Ponds •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Site control, pH control •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Carbonation •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

PC Site Control Technology control: paddles, pumps, pipes, gases, sensors, liquids Biology information & control: pH, depth, CO2 flow, temperatures,

liquid transfer

Site Control & Operation liquids transfer control at 60m3/hr

Dedicated Pond Control

CO2 pH Control depth control & sensors (wired, wireless)

pH Control, 10 Hectares

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity

in Algal Open Ponds •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Site control, pH control •Carbonation •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Turbulence •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Carbonation counter current carbonation chamber

(Oswald 1983) (Theoretical use: ~ 2g CO2/gr AFDW algae)

Carbonation

pH & Alkalinity Control HCl & CO2

pH Control, Depth, Temp recording history

Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity

in Algal Open Ponds •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Site control, pH control •Carbonation •Mixing & Turbulence •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Mixing by liquid flow velocity of ~0.5 ft./sec?

Flow, Mixing or Turbulence? Key Factors for High Productivity

(both channels at 30cm/sec)

Mixing O2 and CO2

O2 super saturation?

(Nurdogan & Oswald, 1983)

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity

in Algal Open Ponds •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Site control, pH control •Carbonation •Mixing & Turbulence •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Head Loss & Depth at 0.5 ft/sec

“n” inches/1,000ft channel length

Oswald’s Pond Design, 1983

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity

in Algal Open Ponds •Area layout •Pond design •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)] •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2) •Distal end, hydraulic radius •Ground infrastructure (area preparation) •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others) •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others) •Paddle wheel •Outside walls and channel dividers •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec) •Site control, pH control •Carbonation •Mixing & Turbulence •Depth (5-100cm, depth control) •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes)

Pond Cleaning Machine use: fast, simple, efficient

Location? (Oswald 1983)

Light & Temperature, Winter & Summer

Location? Climatic regions most suitable for microalgae :

annual average temperatures of > 15 °C” (Benemann, 2007) Optimal: 4-10 night °C, 10-22 day °C

Higher lipid Content Less contamination

Location? Spring Conditions

low night temp, moderate day temp

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for

Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

Oswald Design 25 years later

Biology & Bio-Engineering Requirements for Maximal Productivity in Algal Open Ponds

•Location, same like higher plants •Area layout, as available, preferred lower temperatures •Pond design, raceways •Oblong raceways [length (10-300m), width (1-20m)], 5m x 150m •Optimal size area (300-4,000m2), 1,500m2 by one paddle •Distal end, hydraulic radius, necessary •Ground infrastructure (area preparation), at minimum cost •Pond lining (none, clay, concert, asphalt, fiberglass, plastic sheeting, others), PE or PVC at low “n” •Liquid flow (paddle wheels, pumps, airlift, moving board, others), paddle wheel (or?) •Paddle wheel, XXXX? •Outside walls and channel dividers, the cheapest (bricks, ground ramps) •Flow velocity (laminar liquid flow velocity, 5-40 cm/sec), 30cm/sec ? •Site control, pH control, essential •Carbonation, 2-5 mM TDC at pH 7-8 •Mixing & Turbulence, important (why, how?) •Depth (5-100cm, depth control), the minimum possible in large ponds •Head loss, hydraulics, Manning’s “n” values, low “n” •Pond accessories (drainage, cleaning, pumps, pipes), essential •Essentials at low cost: nutrients, CO2, sea water (salt), electricity, energy •Crop protection

Photosynthetic Limitation of Long Term Algal Productivity Max Theoretical Algal Productivity

25 g/m2/day

Environment Factor Reduction (%) Solar light ------­ 100 Scattering and reflecting properties of surface 10% 90 Absorption spectrum (depth of culture) 50% 45 Photosynthetic efficiency (25%) 75% 11.3 Light saturation (7-95%) 60% 4.5 Respiration, photo-respiration, excretion 5% 4.3 Photo-inhibition 10% 3.8 Temperature 20% 3.1 ================================== ===========================

Productivity Mean daily solar intensity 4,000 kcal/m2/day Energy productivity at 3% efficiency 120 kcal/m2/day Algal biomass productivity (5 kcal/g) 25 g/m2/day

Higher Plants Max (sugar cane, corn, wheat, etc.) 5 g/m2/day

The Israel Electric Co/Seambiotic Ltd. Pilot Plant, Israel

The Israel Electric Co/Seambiotic Ltd. Pilot Plant, Israel

Low Cost Production of marine

Nannochloropsis at yearly average

20g biomass/m2/day (~ 30% lipids)

Thanks to: SEAMBIOTIC Ltd.

& ISRAEL ELECTRIC CO

•